PFA launches multiple-country roadshow

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) has embarked on a multiple-country road show to open new markets for Filipino brands, aside from promoting the country’s franchise industry.

Robert F. Trota, PFA chairman and concurrent chair of the group’s Filipino global brands committee, said PFA has been busy organizing and participating in trade shows and missions for its 260 member- franchisors as part of its efforts to acquaint them to new markets.

Trota, president and CEO of Max’s Restaurant,  said among those they attended were the 13th Taipei International Chain and Franchise Spring Exhibition; the 1st World Franchise Council (WFC) Meeting 2012 and Feria International De Franquicias in Mexico City; the Japan Franchise Show 2012;  the  Indonesian International Franchise, License & Business Concept Expo & Conference; the Macao International Franchise Expo 2012; the 10th Edition of Franchise & License Expo Indonesia;  the Franchising and Licensing Asia Singapore 2012; and the ongoing Annual Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation Meeting, hosted by New Zealand Franchise Association.

Samie Lim, PFA chairman emeritus and head of PFA’s delegation, said the Singapore visit gave them the opportunity to benchmark their programs with the Singaporean franchise group.

“PFA’s participation at the FLA Singapore provides us an opportunity to network with international franchise brands and invite them personally to look at the Philippines as their next investment destination particularly now that the Philippine economy is on the rise,” Lim stressed.

Lim said many exhibitors in Singapore expressed strong interest in participating in Franchise Asia Philippines 2013. With the one-hectare leasable space at the SMX, which is good for 500 exhibitors so far,  Franchise Asia Philippines is being promoted as the largest franchise show in Asia and PFA’s centerpiece capacity-building activity for the Philippine franchise sector.

Now on its 21st year,  the annual show has been a vital tool in marketing Philippine franchises with investors, joint venture partners and franchisees locally and overseas. Not one to rest on its laurels, however, PFA continues to strive to make Franchise Asia Philippines 2013 a vital key to expansion opportunities both here and abroad.

“We need to promote Philippine franchise brands both locally and internationally and PFA, with the support of its members and its various partners, remains steadfast in the attainment of this goal,” stressed Lim, who advised Filipino franchisers to put Indonesia in their priority list of preferred foreign expansion areas.

Considered one of the world’s most populous nations and one of the fiercest of Asia’s emerging tiger economies today, Lim said Indonesia could well very much be the other home of Philippine franchise brands.

PFA is now also organizing a trade mission to Hong Kong this December to explore expansion opportunities in the territory as well as in China. Those who wish to participate in the said trade mission may contact the PFA secretariat at (02) 687-0365 to 67, 09178320731; or email [email protected]; or visit its website www.pfa.org.ph.